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Columbia Falls Sweeps in Divisional Basketball Openers

Polson boys, girls sweep on opening day of new Western A divisional basketball tournaments

By Dillon Tabish
Glenn Morden advances the ball during Columbia Falls basketball practice on Dec. 10, 2015. Greg Lindstrom | Flathead Beacon

New divisional layout, same old Columbia Falls.

The long-reigning basketball power of the Northwestern A opened the newly organized Western A postseason tournaments in Butte with a pair of victories on Wednesday.

The Wildcats, winners of only three games in the regular season, edged Corvallis 48-40 in overtime in the first-round of the boys divisional basketball tournament.

Matt Morrison and Tyler Murphy each scored nine points to advance Columbia Falls (4-15) to the next round, where a familiar foe awaits. The top team from Southwestern A, Dillon (16-4) plays Columbia Falls at 2:30 p.m., Thursday.

The Columbia Falls girls rolled past Corvallis 67-39 in the opener. Kiara Burlage scored 23 and Peyton Kehr had 15 to lead the Wildkats (18-1) to the next round, where they will play the winner of Dillon (12-6) and Whitefish (6-12), who square off tonight at 7:45 p.m.

Polson swept on the first day of divisional action as well.

The Pirates blew past Stevensville 55-35. Matthew Rensvold scored 19, Shade Main had 10 and Payton Lefthand added nine as Polson (15-4) advanced to the next round against the winner of Hamilton (10-8) and Frenchtown (3-15), who play Wednesday night.

The Polson girls, led by Nichole Lake’s 19, held off Stevensville 42-31 on Wednesday. The Lady Pirates (7-12) play Butte Central (18-0) at 4:15 p.m., Thursday.

The Whitefish boys (6-12) take on Butte Central (10-8) at 11 a.m., Thursday.

This year marks the debut of the new Western A divisional tournament layout. The top four teams from each tournament will advance to the Class A state tournaments. The boys tournament is March 3-5 in Missoula. The girls tournament is March 10-12 in Belgrade.


 

Wednesday’s Divisional Tournament Box Scores

Polson  15  9  12  6  –  42
Stevensville  5  4  13  9  –  31

POLSON – Nichole Lake 19, Brenna Clarke 8, MaKenna Weltz 5, Lauren Lefthand 4, Erin Sampson 2, Kaelyn Smith 2.

STEVENSVILLE – Mariah Hinson 11, Makayla Davids 7, Megan Pendergast 5, Deanna Blair 3, Ashlynn Harrington 3, Angel Richards 2.


Columbia Falls  7  10  5  15  11  –  48
Corvallis  12  11  8  6  3  –  40

COLUMBIA FALLS – Tyler Murphy 9, Matt Morrison 9, Austin Green 8, Mason Tucker 8, Dakota Bridwell 5, Nathan Riley 3, Logan Stephens 2, Steven DeCamp 2, Quintin Schriver 2.

CORVALLIS – Chase Jessop 19, Jacob Geary 9, Caleb Powell 4, Spencer Jessop 3, Tylor Nixon 3, Dillon Lewis 2.


Corvallis  6  16  8  9 –  39
Columbia Falls  13  25  12  17  –  67
CORVALLIS – Taia Tully 4, Corine Sanderson 15, Penny Jessop 2, Genesis Keith 2, Calla Haldorson 11, Lainie Albright 3, Tayle Wright 2.
COLUMBIA FALLS – Cydney Finberg 6, Peyton Kehr 15, Miranda Livingston 7, Kiara Burlage 23, Sydney Grilley 4, Allyson Gimbe 4, Sydney Hovde 8.


Stevensville 6  9  8  12  –  35
Polson  15  8  20  12  –  55
STEVENSVILLE – Liam LeCoure 7, Jarod Kingsberry 7, James Fry 7, Dalton Bragg 2, Bryce Torrey 6, Jordan Thomas 4, Cody Coleman 2.
POLSON – Wyatt DuCharme 4, Payton Lefthand 9, Tanner Wilson 5, Matthew Rensvold 19, Julian Jones 8, Shade Main 10.